There are two Bee semifinalists who have seen what it's like to win -- when their older sisters did it.
Vanya Shivashankar (Speller 91) and Ashwin Veeramani (Speller 191) were both in the ballroom to see their sisters hoist the trophy. Kavya Shivashankar won in 2009 on the word "Laodicean." Anamika Veeramani won in 2010 with "stromuhr."
"It's really exciting," Kavya said of watching her sister compete. "I'm more nervous than I would have been if I was on stage."
Vanya, a Kansas sixth grader, is in her third Bee. She said Kavya is her role model. Kavya said spelling has brought them closer together.
Kavya helped her sister study in the past, but has been busy with school this year. She just graduated high school and will attend Columbia University in the fall, where she plans to study neuroscience.
But back to spelling. Before she entered the ballroom for the Semifinals, Vanya said she was excited to see what her words would be.
Several spellers said they are now rooting for Vanya to win the Bee, after watching her through the years.
"It's really nice. It's so kind of them to want me to do well," she said.
Kavya said that fits in with the camaraderie of the Bee that she and her sister share.
"It's not a cutthroat competition," Kavya said.
In fact, Anamika competed against Kavya the year Kavya won. Now, they're friends, Anamika said.
Anamika said she has gotten some words for her brother to study. But they learn in different ways.
"He's interested in geography and current events," she said. "I read Lord of the Rings."
Ashwin, an Ohio seventh grader, said he wanted to compete in the Bee after watching his sister.
"I'm doing what she did. I'm going through what she went through," he said. "I saw how much work she put into it and thought, 'I can do that.'"
